The unchanging nature of God. [ Malachi 3 v6 ]

Isaiah 40 is one of the most wonderful chapters in the Bible,it starts with words of comfort to Gods children,they have been forgiven,but as A. Motyer points out,/it was not just a word expressing comfort and kindliness ,but it is seeking to persuade,inviting them to respond to love/.His people had sinned,God had dealt with them,now he desires to comfort them and restore them,the question is would they respond?.In this chapter we are told of a loving tender God CP,/He shall feed His flock like a shepherd,He shall gather the lambs with His arm,and carry them in His bosom, and shall gentle
lead those who are with young/, contrary to what some people think,God in the OT,is the God of the NT,He is the God of love,whose heart goes out to his creation in love.Those who choose to live outside His love are still invited to embrace His forgiveness in His Son Jesus,and those who have,to rest in His love.A.Motyer writes,/This love is part of the unchanging nature of God,and thus guarantees a continuing relationship come what may/.
A prayer.,,,,,/Dear God of Love we worship You,and praise You,and rest in Your love in Jesus name
Amen./

Misconceptions.[ Romans 8 v26 ]

]In Isaiah  38 we have recorded Hezekiah's sickness,he is told by the prophet Isaiah to put his affairs in order for he was going to die.Consider, we are all going to die,have we put our affairs in order?,are we ready to die?do we know Jesus as Saviour?.Now when Hezekiah hears these words,he is overwhelmed with grief,and so he prays.We read how he reminded God of how he had walked before Him in truth,with a perfect heart,and had did that which was good in His sight.Now God tells Isaiah that he had heard his prayer,and saw is tears[v5]. A.Motyer points out,God alludes only to his tears,
 Hezekiah resorts to a bargaining with God,and fails to see, that the ground on which prayer is answered is not human faithfulness,but the faithfulness of God.His prayer was far from perfect,but as A.Motyer points out,/The Lord in mercy hears our prayers,even when they are based on a false assumption/. So let us learn from this that our relationship with God is based on Grace, not on merit,and that is why in spite of our misconceptions God will be merciful.
A  prayer......../Dear God have mercy upon our foolish misconceptions,and overrule in all things,grant us a clearer understanding of Your perfect will in Jesus name. Amen /

Christ in you the hope of glory. [Colossians 1v 27 ]

Continuing on from yesterday,as regards ,believing determination,and along with that A.Motyer writes,/Hope is the cordial the people of God need to keep them going/.What is that hope firstly,/God,they are told that He will come and save them,on writing about the unsaved, the apostle Paul points out three tragic things in Ephesians 2 v12,that they were without Christ....having no hope,and without God in the world.What a hopeless state  they were in, the scripture tells us,/if in this life only we have hope,we are of all men most miserable/[1 Corinthians 15v19].One commentator points out,that in the Roman catacombs[were many Christians were buried,or in tombed] hope the commonest inscription.There is no such word on the tombs of the heathen dead/Only  through knowing Christ as ones Saviour is there hope,apart from Him there is only loss,and despair.With  Him the future is bright,as we march on into eternal Glory,one has said it is glory here and glory there.
A prayer....../Dear God the God of all hope we worship You and praise You for Jesus,our hope Amen/

Believing determination. [ Romans 4 v 18-22]

I may just borrow a number of phrases from A.Motyer commentary of Isaiah,writing in chapter 35 v 3-4,the prophet declares,/Strengthen ye the weak hands,and confirm the feeble knees.Say to them that are of a fearful heart,Be strong,fear not,behold,your God will come with vengeance,even with a recompense,he will come and save you./ A.M.writes this,/It is a call to the fortitude [ the word fortitude has a number of meanings, courage, backbone] of faith,not grim determination,but believing determination/ The Bible tells us the the just shall live by faith [Galations 3v11],and so as we move on,towards our goal and home,it must be, by faith and faith alone.We are saved by grace through faith,now there is a life of holiness,a life of taking up our cross day by day,and following Jesus. An non Christian said a Christian who was experiencing difficulties,I do not know how you cope and go on, the Christian with a twinkle in his eye,replied, but I do.
A prayer....../Dear God grant us that believing determination,to go on until we see our great king in His beauty,in His name we ask this. Amen/

Read your Bible. [2 Timothy 3 v15ff]

I read recently how the great George Whitefield,when reading the Bible would use a commentary in his devotional times,and so following his example I have been using A. Motyer's commentary on Isaiah.It is academic but also has a devotional quality to it,which makes it enjoyable to read,I am half way through the book of Isaiah,I am taking a more leisurely approach to my Bible reading,I have read the bible through many times,so I have decided to take my time,and use whatever means,to help me understand more of what I am reading. A little chorus comes to mind,which goes,/Read your Bible pray every day if you want to grow,/if we neglect this advice it will effect us,and not for the better.So read the Bible,study the Bible,pray over the Bible,asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth,and that in His light[ the Word of God] you will see light,especially Him who is the light of the world Jesus.
A  prayer....../Dear God thank You for Your infallible word,help us not to neglect it,help us not to leave it, to the so called professionals to feed us, help us to begin to feed ourselves,so that we may grow spiritually,in Jesus name, Amen /

Have I got it wrong ? [ Romans 1 v16 ]

Sometimes I wonder  am I the only one who believes that people are not saved and that they  are sinners?,I listen to ministers who are not clear in their ministry as to peoples spiritual condition,why is it I feel like a voice crying in the wilderness?.Have I have got it wrong, am I the one who is out of step,am I crank?,all these things go through my mind.Well having said that,I know from Gods word,that all humanity are lost because of sin,and that unless they trust Jesus they will be lost,and I know that I have a deep responsibility to tell all ,about Jesus,the only one who can save.A. Motyer wrote, /Outside trust in the Lord and His promises,there is only death,there is no alternative salvation/May God deliver us from compromise,recently my fellow country man Ian Paisley died,he was a controversial person,and to many peoples surprise he went the road of compromise in his political stance,in order that a degree of peace would come to my beloved Ulster. Yet one thing he never compromised on ,was the gospel,of telling men and women of their need of Christ.May we follow big Ian's example, to remain faithful ,to Christ,it was the great apostle who said woe is me if I preach not the gospel.
A  prayer....../Dear God help us to be uncompromising in our stand for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen /

Do it. [ Psalm 133]

I was Mr Grumpy last night,like a bear with a sore head,I am glad that I did not have a cat,as I might have kicked it.The reason being I was tired,this morning I said sorry to my dear wife,which she accepted. Many years ago when I attended Bible college I felt I had offended one of the lecturers,the Holy Spirit spoke to me,and so I got on my bike and rode over to where he lived and said I was sorry.Not so long ago I felt I had offended a brother and his wife,so I called at their home and said I was sorry. Whither those dear people understood what I did,I understood,the Holy Spirit knew and I knew I had to say sorry,the result, the bond of unity was not broken.Unity in Gods church is very important , and we must do all we can to maintain it,and if we do God will be pleased,and God will bless. So if it means saying sorry to your wife,to your children,to other Christians,do it.
A   prayer...../Dear  God forgive us for not saying we are sorry,and help us to realise the importance of unity in Jesus name Amen /